Heat-exchanger construction



P 1967 J. G. KEARNEY HEATEXCHANGER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 24, 1965- /V70f. JOHN G. KEARNEY WW Ymz 4 TTOAA EK United States Patent 3,315,739 HEAT-EXCHANGER CONSTRUCTION John G. Kearney, R.D., Ann-andale, NJ. 08801 Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No. 466,645

3 Claims. (Cl. 165-165) This invention relates generally to heat exchangers, and is especially concerned with structural improvements in industrial heat-exchange apparatus.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger of the type described which is particularly well adapted for effecting heat transfer between corrosive fluids, and is particularly well adapted for use with fluids under high pressures.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat-exchanger construction of the type described which is modular in design so as to be capable of assembly in a wide variety of sizes and capacities.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat-exchanger construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is extremely simple in structure, requiring a minimum of component parts, capable of quick and easy cleaning and disassembly and reassembly, which is economical to manufacture, assemble and maintain, and durable and reliable throughout a long useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a heat exchanger constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the heat exchanger of FIGURE 1; 7,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, the heat exchanger is there generally designated 10, and includes a generally cylindrical casing 11 and a plurality of blocklike exchanger members 12 mounted in spaced relation interiorly of the casing.

The casing 11 may include a generally cylindrical side wall 15, say of steel or other suitable material, and formed at spaced locations adjacent to opposite ends with inlet and oulet connections 16 and 17. That is, the inlet connection 16 may include a tube 18 having one end fixedly secured, as by welding or the like, to the casing side wall adjacent to and spaced from the upper end thereof and opening into the interior of the casing. The tube 18 may project generally radially from the cylindrical side wall 15 and be provided on its outer end with a connection flange 19. Similarly, the outlet connection 17 may include a tube 20 having one end suitably fixed to the casing side wall 15 adjacent to and spaced upward from the lower end of the latter, and opening into the casing for fluid communication therewith. The radially outer end of tube 20 may be providedwith a connection flange 21.

At opposite ends of the cylindrical side wall 15, extending circumferentially thereabout and suitably secured thereto may be upper and lower connection flanges 22 and 23. A pair of generally circular end walls or plates 24 and 25 are respectively arranged over the upper and lower ends of side wall 15 and connected to the latter by upper and lower tie bolts 26 and 27. Circumferential expansion joints 28 and 29 may be interposed between respective upper and lower walls 24 and 25 and their adjacent side-wall ends.

Arranged concentrically and in spaced relation within the cylindrical side wall 15 are a plurality of the heatexchange members 12. The heat-exchange members may be identical, so that a detailed description of one will suflice. Each heat-exchange member 12 is of a blocklike, generally cylindrical construction, advantageously fabricated entirely of graphite or other suitable heat-exchange material. The blocks 12 each include a plurality of longitudinally extending thru openings or holes 30. The holes 30 extend between and open through opposite ends of the respective block 12 and are arranged in a series of aligned groups or rows, as best seen in FIG- URE 3. It will there be apparent that the rows of aligned thru holes 30 may be considered as extending chordally of the block. In addition, each block is formed with a plurality of generally parallel, spaced chordally extending thru openings or holes 31. The chordally extending holes 31 may be arranged each between an adjacent pair of chordally aligned series or rows of end-to-end holes 30. More specifically, the chordally extending holes 31 may be of elongate configuration in the longitudinal direction of the respective block 39, as best seen in FIGURE 4, so as to open through opposite sides of the respective block, without opening through the block ends. It will now be appreciated that the chordal passage-ways 31 extend transversely through each block 12, while the passageways 36* extend longitudinally through each block, and that the passageways 30 are isolated from the passageways 31.

Further, each block 12 has one end surface, the lower end surface 33 as seen in FIGURE 4, generally flat and provided with a peripherally extending, longitudinally projecting lip or wall 34. The opposite end surface 35 of each block 12 has its peripheral margin slightly recessed or cut away, as at 36. The peripheral end recess 36 may be of less depth than the peripheral end wall or ridge 34.

Upon arrangement of the blocks 12 in their end-to-end relationship, the peripheral end ridge or wall 34 of one block will engage in the peripheral end recess of the next adjacent block. Further, an annular sealing ring or gasket 37 is interposed between the facing surfaces of each peripheral end recess 36 and its received peripheral end ridge 34. By this construction, each adjacent pair of end-to-end blocks 12 is spaced apart, as at 38, with the interblock spaces 38 each surrounded and sealed by a respective gasket 37. The gaskets 37 may be of envelope construction, asbestos covered with Teflon.

It will now be apparent that the end-to-end thru openings 30 of each block 12 open into and communicate through the interblock spaces or chambers 38 to the thru openings 30 of the next adjacent block.

At opposite ends of the series of end-to-end aligned exchange members or blocks 12 are located a pair of end members 40 and 41. More particularly, each end member 40 and 41 may be generally cylindrical external configuration and fabricated of any suitable material, the end member 40 being interposed between the endplate 24 and adjacent or uppermost block 12, while the lower end member 41 is interposed between the lower endplate 25 and lowermost block 12. Further, the end member 40 may be formed with a thru passageway 42 having its outer end provided with an annular extension or nipple 43 engageable through a hole 44 in the plate 24. The endmember passageway 42 may diverge or flare inwardly, as at 45 to terminate in a peripherally extending end wall or ridge 46 in sealed engagement with the adjacent end of uppermost block 12. The inner end enlargement or flared portion 45 of end-member passageway 42 serves to provide fluid communication between the several end-to-end openings 36 of uppermost block 12 and outward through the outlet opening 44 of endplate 44.

The lower end member 4-4 is similarly of generally cylindrical configuration, approximately of the same diameter as the blocks 12, and having a thru passageway 46 communicating between the end-to-end openings of the lowermost block 12 and the inlet opening 47 of the lower endplate 25. In this manner, continuous, sealed fluid communication exists between the endplates 25 and 24, through the end members 41 and 4t and through the end-to-end openings 30 of the several exchange members or blocks 12, and their intermediate chambers 38.

The annular space 58 within the casing side wall 15 and surrounding the several blocks 12, has its opposite ends closed, as by a pair of annular ribs or walls 51 and 52 extending respectively about the upper end of uppermost block 12 and the lower end of lowermost block 12. Further, each exchange member or block 12 is provided at diametrically opposite locations on the exterior thereof with a longitudinally extending rib, as at 53. The ribs 53 of the several blocks 12 may be in end-to-end alignment with each other, and may be integrally formed, if desired. The longitudinal external ribs 53 are advantageously located in a plane generally normal to the direction of the several chordal openings 31, as best seen in FIGURE 3.

In addition to the longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed ribs 53 on each block 12, each block is further provided with additional rib 54, located at one end of the block and extending externally about the periphery thereof between one pair of adjacent ends of the longitudinal ribs. Thus, the peripheral rib 54 of each block 12 extends substantially in a semicircle through the space 50. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the semicircular ribs 54 of adjacent blocks 12 are advantageously located on opposite sides of the aligned longitudinal ribs 53.

By the above-described arrangement and relationship of ribs 53 and 54, such ribs serve to define baffle means for conducting fluid between the side-Wall openings 16 and 17 through the chordal openings 31 of the several blocks 12. For example, as best seen in FIGURE 1, fluid entering the upper side opening 16 passes chordally through the uppermost block 12, thence downward and reversing passes chordally through the second uppermost block 12. The fluid again passes downward and reverses for passage through the next lowermost block 12, and again reverses and passes chordally through the lower most block 12 for exit through opening 17. Thisbafiiing of fluid between the side openings 16 and 17 insures adequate passage of the fluid through the exchange members to any desired degree.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a heat-exchanger construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat-exchanger construction comprising a generally cylindrical casing side wall having side openings adjacent to opposite ends, said side wall being of generally constant internal cross section throughout its length, a pair of casing end walls secured across opposite ends of said side Wall and each having a thru opening, a plurality of generally cylindrical blocks of heat-exchange material and of a diameter less than the inside diameter of said side wall, a peripheral rib projecting longitudinally from one end of each block, the other end of each block being formed with a peripheral recess of a depth less than the projection of said rib, said blocks being arranged in endto-end spaced relation concentrically within and spaced from said side and end walls with the rib of each block entering the recess of the adjacent block, endless sealing means in each recess in sealing relation with the adjacent rib to close the space therebetween, said blocks each having a plurality of end-to-end thru holes opening at opposite ends into the interblock space within said sealing means for communication with the end-to-end holes of the adjacent blocks, an end member interposed between each end wall and the adjacent block and having passage means communicating between the adjacent end-wall opening and the end-to-end openings of the adjacent block, for through communication between said end-wall openings through said end-to-end holes, said blocks each having a plurality of parallel chordally extending thru holes isolated from the end-to-end holes and communicating with the spaces on opposite sides of said blocks within said casing, at least a pair of ribs extending longitudinally along and fixedly secured to each block on opposite sides thereof and projecting to said side wall, and a generally semicircular rib fixedly secured to each block extending thereabout between one pair of adjacent ends of said pair of ribs and projecting to said side wall, whereby fluid passing between said sidewall openings is directed through said chordally extending holes.

2. A heat-exchanger construction according to claim 1, said chordally extending holes being of elongate crosssectional configuration.

3. A heat-exchanger construction according to claim 2, said blocks and ribs being fabricated of graphite.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 665,899 1/1952 Great Britain.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

MEYER PERLIN, Examiner. T. W. ST REULE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HEAT-EXCHANGER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CASING SIDE WALL HAVING SIDE OPENINGS ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID SIDE WALL BEING OF GENERALLY CONSTANT INTERNAL CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH, A PAIR OF CASING END WALLS SECURED ACROSS OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALL AND EACH HAVING A THRU OPENING, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BLOCKS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE MATERIAL AND OF A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID SIDE WALL, A PERIPHERAL RIB PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE END OF EACH BLOCK, THE OTHER END OF EACH BLOCK BEING FORMED WITH A PERIPHERAL RECESS OF A DEPTH LESS THAN THE PROJECTION OF SAID RIB, SAID BLOCKS BEING ARRANGED IN ENDTO-END SPACED RELATION CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN AND SPACED FROM SAID SIDE AND END WALLS WITH THE RIB OF EACH BLOCK ENTERING THE RECESS OF THE ADJACENT BLOCK, ENDLESS SEALING MEANS IN EACH RECESS IN SEALING RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT RIB TO CLOSE THE SPACE THEREBETWEEN, SAID BLOCKS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF END-TO-END THRU HOLES OPENING AT OPPOSITE ENDS INTO THE INTERBLOCK SPACE WITHIN SAID SEALING MEANS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE END-TO-END HOLES OF THE ADJACENT BLOCKS, AN END MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN 